In the Company of Dog

Floating into my inbox the last few days has been quite a few discussions about diet. Diet is one of those things I am way too passionate about. I feel that nutrition is part of the key that unlocks a happy healthy balanced dog. Sure a dog can survive on any of the foods find in the multitude of bags with the friendly flashy pictures on them. But why should dog just survive? A dog should thrive!

Long before the pet food recalls for last year, dog food has been a ticking time bomb. In fact I take that back. The pet food industry have has many incidents like the Menu Foods tragedy, but sadly few make headlines and in the meantime, pets suffer. Many food manufacturers used questionable practices when it comes to obtaining ingredients. Some going as far as using meat from rendering plants that included euthanized pets. Dogs have died or suffered eating bad corn, bad wheat, bad meat and other bad ingredients. Sadly the pet food industry had crawled back under its rock and the public is still trusting in the flashy colorful bags and commercials and no idea of the truth behind the hype.

The three evils: Corn, Wheat, Soy,
I ask anyone pondering dog food “have you ever seen a dog eating out or a corn, wheat, or soybean field?”. All say no. Sure a dog will eat bread, corn, or almost anything you are eating, but that does not mean they would be, given a choice. Canines gain almost no nutritional value from any of these ingredients. Why are they in the dog food then? FILLER! Cheap Filler. Cheap Carbohydrates your dog will never need. All it does is make them fat, dope them up and give them infections and allergies.
Quality dog foods contain grains that are actually digestible, such as brown rice. These actually can be digested in some form or another.
Also Corn, Wheat, and Soy account for the majority of canine allergies, skin conditions and can be tied to ear infections, digestion problems, and behavioral problems.

Atkins Pets?
For those who don’t want to go with grain at all, you are in luck. Grain free food brands have been available for a while now. They are Low Carb, High Protein diets. They come in all protein types and are bound together in kibble form using potatoes. Most quailty brands of dog food make a grain free choice today. The only major variations are in fillers, protein levels, and protein source. Most dogs I have worked with who more to a grain free diet, achieve a healthy weight and have a much easier time establishing a calm balanced temperament. Why? Because they no long have nervous energy. They not longer are hyped up on empty carbs. How much better do you feel after you have had a healthy meal vs a heavy junk food meal?

Choices, choices…
Then there is the option of Raw. While raw deserves its own entry, it should get a mention. Raw is just what it sounds like - raw food. Some argue this is more biologically appropriate. Some are concerned about ecoli and salmonella. Some just can’t afford it or it is too much work. Some it has worked wonders. I will leave it as a option and fill in the rest at a later date.
Also their are brands of supplements and dried veggies that can be added to meat. There are even books to teach you how you properly cook for your dog. There is healthy balanced option for everyone.

My take:
Now why the title to this entry? Well because my dogs eat fish, of course! My shibas, my foster shibas, and any other dogs staying here, eats fish. I t is my personal theory that dogs do best on the protein their breed was developed on. Shepherds - lamb, retrieves - fowl, shibas - fish! Shibas are from Japan, where the bulk of the human diet is fish based. The same was fed to shibas. All these dogs thrive on fish. They are also fed grain free. The grain just seems to clog up their systems and make them feel blah. The only grain comes form biscuit treats and those only come at bedtime. Then their is the food based enrichment; marrow bones, chicken necks, chicken feet, whole fish, and a periodic sampling of raw. Just something different to make them think and to spice up their life.

Now every dog is different. Yours might thrive on a little grain. Maybe raw, or home cooked. It does not matter as long as your dog is happy, healthy and thriving. But if your dog is not at it’s best, please consider feeding them something a little better. You might feel it in the wallet now. But I promise you won’t feel it at the vets office or the dog school classes. It will make things all the more cheaper later… and more special.

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